Sewing-machine attachment



D. A. HTCHCUCK SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT. APPLxcAnoN FILED JULY 17, um.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET l..

n. A. HITCHCOCK. SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED JULY I?. IQIB.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jn` 4,1921.

DANIEL A. HITCHCOCK, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4c, 1921.

Application filed July 17, 1918. Serial No. 245,264.

To (/.ZZ 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL Allmencocn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Haverhill, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sewing-Machine Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

ln the manufacture of shoes it is common practice to provide a textile strip or stay piece between the inner side of the upper and the shoe lining, at the edge of the shoe opening, and at the opposite side of the lining from the leather eyelet facing. These stay pieces, commonly called eyelet stays, are usually either died out, to correspond with the curve of the front edge of the upper, or are made of bias tape, which is adapted to be stretched at either edge, to correspond to the curve of the edge ofv the upper, so that it will lie flat when in position.

A. common method employed in attaching eyelet stays is to cement them to the upper before the lining is stitched on, and another method, which eliminates the cementing operation and is less expensive, is to stitch the bias tape to one side of the lining at the same time the leather facing is stitched to the opposite side, which operation is performed before the lining is'attached to the upper. In attaching the tape by the latter method, with the machines which have previously been used for this purpose, much difficulty has been encountered in preventing puckering of the portions which have to be attached in curved form.

The objects of my invention are to provide an ordinary straight-needle sewing machine with means for automatically lengthening or stretching the edge portion of the bias tape, which is attached to the edgeportion of the lining, as it is stitched thereto, so that it will lie flat on the curved portions, as well as on the straight portions, and so that the operation may be performed as rapidly as if'the leather eyelet facing, only, were being attached to thelining.

A further object is to provide an attachment which may be readily applied to sewing machines in general use, Vwithout the addition of special operation mechanism.

I accomplish these objectsiby providinga clamping device which is arranged to clamp and also sharply indent, so as to stretch or place in condition,` to be readily stretched,

the edge-portion of the tape which is to be lengthened, in advance of its delivery to the feeding mechanism, and to hold it during a portion of the feeding motion of the workfeeding device ofthe machine, so'that said feeding device, by exerting a pull on the tape against the holding action of the clamping device, will have a stretching action thereon. l

For a more complete disclosure of the invention and of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view showing a portion of the table of sewing machine with an attachment, embodying my invention, applied thereto:

Fig. Q'is a sectional view at the line 2-2 of Fig. l:

Figs. 3 and 4. are enlarged sectional views, at the line 3 3 of Fig. l:

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the throat plate with the bridge plate, which I employ, removed:

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views at the line 6-6 of Fig. l, showing the parts in different positions.

As the attachment is employed in connection with a sewing machine of well-known type, only such parts thereof are shown in the drawing as directly coperate therewith, such parts comprising the table a, the

presser foot b, the four-motion feed plate c,

and the needle c.

According to my invention l provide a throat plate CZ, which is adapted to be inserted in place of the usual rectangular throat plate, which is secured on the table, approximately flush with its surface, and is adapted to be removed, to permit access to the parts directly therebeneath.

The plate l is provided with the usual slot d', in which the corrugated surface of the feed plate operates, and a needle hole (Z2, through which the needle e passes. The surface of said plate'is also recessed, or provided with a groove (Z3, which is of a width and depth slightly greater than the width and thickness of the tape which is Ato be used in connection therewith, so that it may guide thel tape effectively when drawn therethrough, and extends from the front end of the plater nearly to the point where the foot b presses the work against the table, the bottom of the groove being inclined up to the surface of the plate at itsy rear end.

bridge plate g is secured byscrews, or other convenient means, onto the upper surface of the plate CZ, so that it extends across the groove Z3 at its front end, thereby forming a guiding passage forl the tape, through which it may be readily drawn. A clamping lever 7L is mounted in a position at right angles to said passage on a pivot z', secured in a lug j, formed on the under side of plate (Z and said lever is provided with a longitudinally extending indenting blade la on its upper side, between its pivot and its right hand end. A V-shaped recess m is formed in the under side of the bridge plate g in position to receive the edge portion of said blade when the lever It is swung upward. The edge of said blade is not sharp, but corresponds to the shape of said recess, and the latter is formed to decrease in depth from the right hand edge of the plate, as shown in Figs. 3 and al.

The feed plate c is provided with a horizontal projection or lug n, which extends beneath the right hand end of the lever 7L, in position to engage the lower end of a screw o threaded in said leverhwhen the feed plate is moved upward to engage the work. To lock the screw 0 in the positions to which it may be adjusted, the end portion of the lever, in which it is located, is split to enable said portions to be clamped there against by a clamping screw p. The opposite end of the lever it is adapted to engage the underside of the plate cl, to limit the movement of the lever at a point at which the blade lo is held below the level of the under side of the bridge plate g. See Fi g. 8.

In operating the machine, thus organized, the strip of bias tape .r is drawn from a roll, which affords a continuous supply, and passed through the passage or groove (Z3, be@ neath the bridge plate g, so that its right hand edge-portion is guided to pass over the edge of the blade k and out over the surface of the plate (Z, the tape being also guided into the desired position to receive the stitches.

The lining y, and the leather eyelet facing are placed in position on the tape and the three pieces are sewed together close to their edges, the work resting on the table at the left of the needle, as usual, so that the curved edges of the lining swing to the left from the line of feed, as indicated in Fig. l.

As the feed plate c is lifted from the position of F ig. 3, to the position of Figs. 4L and 6, its arm n engages the screw o in lever it and swings said lever upward, causing its blade 7c to be forced into the recess m, and, as the right hand edge-portion of the tape is drawn over the blade, the latter will force the edge-portion of the tape directly over it, into the recess, causing a sharp bend or indentation to be impressed therein, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, and, at the same time,

clamping said edge-portion firmly against the bridge plate g. The feed plate, which has, by this movement, been moved into engagement with the tape, in front of the portion thereof which is thus clamped, will be moved forwardly to feed along' the work the length of the stitch, the parts being so arranged that, during the first portion, preferably from one-third motion, the lug n will be held against the screw 0, so that the tape will be held clamped by the blade during this portion of the feeding movement, and, consequently, the feed plate, at this time, will act to pull the tape longitudinally against the clamping action of the blade, thereby causing a stretching action thereon. The lug n is then withdrawn from beneath the screw o, so that the blade is instantly disengaged from the tape and, during the remainder of the feeding movement, the tape will be drawn along by the feed plate in the normal manner, causing the portion which has been indented by being forced into the recess m, to be witlr drawn therefrom, as indicated in Fig. 7. The feed plate is then moved downward and rearward, to the position of Fig. 8, and then upward, so that the operation is repeated. On the next operation, the blade /c will force the tape into the recess at a new point, while, during the pulling action of the feed plate on the tape, while clamped, the previously made indentation in the tape will be pulled out, so that the tape will lie flat. The action of the blade, in forcing the tape-edge-portion into the recess m, causes a stretching action on the tape, or places it in a condition in which it may be more easily stretched, tlmn normally, and this edge-portion is pulled ont flat when the pull of the feed plate is applied thereto, and some additional. stretching action may also be applied to the tape, depending on the length of the feed and adjustment of the parts. In practice, for cr;- ample, the feed plate is supported on an a rin.l as g, and may be adjusted thereon so as to increase or decrease the length of the portion of the feeding movement of the plate during which it holds the tape clamped against its feeding action.

The stretching action, thus applied to the edge-portion of the tape, through which the stitches are passed, is sutlicient to increase the length of such edge-portion to an extent which will enable the tape to be laid flat along the curved portions of the lining, the side of the groove d3, through which it is drawn, holding it in the correct position for attachment. When, however, it is attached to the straighter portions of the work, the sewing action will gather up the previously stretched portion correspondingly, so that the tape will lie flat under all conditions. That is, the tape is guided by the sides of the groove through which it is drawn, so

to one-half) of this that it is delivered to the desired position beneath the lining, and the operator, in guiding the lining, causes the extra elongation of the right-handedge-portion of the tape to be retained or gathered up according to requirements.

rlhe relative arrangement of the edge of the blade c, and the surface against which it is clamped, is siich that the extent to which the edge portion of the tape is indented greatest at its extreme edge, and decreases from this point toward the middle, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the extent, to which the edge-portion of the tape will be stretched, will decrease regularly from the edge, as the indenting operation has a stretching effect, of itself, which varies according to its extent.

From the foregoing description apparent that, while other means than the feed plate might be employed to operate the tape-clamping and indenting device in time with the feed plate, and which would become necessary when applied to a needle feed machine, the employment of any other operating means would be likely to involve the addition of other parts to the sewing machine and might even involve the prodiiction of a new machine, but the /above described device may be employed on many standard machines, of the general type shown, and may be applied by merely substituting the plate d, with its attachments, for the usual plate arranged over the shuttle, and, by reshaping the feed plate sufficiently to form the arm n, which alternation does not affect the use of the machine for other purposes.

lVhile the indenting and stretching operations may not both be absolutely essential to reasonably satisfactory results, as either operation n'iight, to a considerable degree, give greatly improved results, as compared with the results which would be seciired with the ordinary sewing machine, previously eniployed for this purpose, the two operations together give greatlyimproved results over either alone.

I claim- 1. In combination with. the sewing mechanism of a sewing machine, means for sti-etching one edge-portion of a bias-cnt textile strip to conform to the shape of the edge of the material to which it is to be stitched, comprising means disposed in advance of to impress a series of transit will be said mechanism versely extending indentations in said edge portions, and means to exert a longitudinal piill on said portion after each indentation has heen formed therein, to pull ont the same prior to its being engaged by the sewing mechanism.

2. ln a sewing machine having interenttently operating feeding mechanism, means to stretch one-edge portion. of a bias-cut tex `tently operating tile strip to conform to the curved edge of the material to which it is to be sewed, comprising a clamp having one member ar-l ranged to extend between the strip and the material, as they are fed to the sewing mechanism, and means to move the other clamp member into engagement with said edge portion of the strip, in time with the feeding movement of said feeding mechanism, and to hold the same in clamping engagement therewith during a substantial portion of said feeding movement.

3. In a sewing machine having intermitfeeding mechanism, means to stretch one edge portion of a bias-crit textile strip to conform to the curved edge of the material to which it is to be sewed comprising a bridge plate disposed in advance of said mechanism and adapted and arranged to permit the strip to pass beneath and the material to pass over said plate and intermittently acting means to clamp the edge portion of the strip against said hridge plate, to hold said portion against the feeding action of said feeding mechanism, dni'- ing a portion 0f its feeding movement.

Li. In a sewing machine having intermittently operating feeding mechanism, means to guide a strip of textile material to said mechanism, so that one of its edge-portions is engaged thereby, and means, disposed in advance of said mechanism, simultaneously to clamp and form a transverse indentation in said edge-portion of the strip, to hold the same stationary during a portion of the operative movement of said feeding mechanism.

5. In combination with the feeding and sewing mechanism of a sewing machine, means to giiide` a strip of textile material to said mechanism, means to form a sharp, transversely extending indentation in one edge-portion of the strip as it is gni ded and simultaneously to hold the saine against the feeding ction of said feeding mechanism during a portion of its feeding movement.

6. In combination with the feeding and sewing mechanism of a sewing machine` means to guide a strip of textile material to said mechanism, a clamping device arranged to engage one edge-portion of the material in advance of the point at which it is delivered to said mechanism, said clamping d evice having correspondingly formed projecting and recessed engaging members adapted and arranged to form a sharp, transversely extending indentation in one edge-portion of the strip, and means to operate. said clamping device to hold the strip against the feeding action of said feeding mechanism during a portion of the feeding motion of the latter.

'i'. ln combination with a sewing machine having a four-motion feed-plate, means to giiide a strip of textile material so that one edge-portion thereof passes over said plate,

a clamping device having its members arranged at opposite sides of said edge-portion of the strip and means carried by said feed plate to engage one member of said clamping device to move the same into clamping engagement with the strip during the upmotion of the feed plate, and to hold said members in clamping engagement with the strip during' the first portion of the feeding movement of the feed plate.

8. In combination with a sewing inachine having a four-motion feed-plate, means to guide a strip of textile material so that one edge-portion thereof passes over said plate, a clamping device having its members arranged at opposite sides of said edge-portion of the strip, said members having correspondingly shaped recessed and projecting portions adapted and arranged to press a transversely disposed indentation in said edge-portion when forced into en-A gagement therewith, and means carrier by said feed plate to force said members into clamping position preliminary to its feeding movement and to hold them in said position during the preliminary portion of said movement.

9. In combination with the sewing and feeding mechanism of a sewing machine, means to stretch one edge portion of a biascut textile strip to conform to the curved edge of the material to which it is to be Sewed, comprising a clamp disposed in advance of said mechanism, having one of its members provided with a recess and the other with a correspondingly shaped projection, means to guide the strip se that its said edge portion passes between said members and at the opposite side of one of said members from that at which the material is fed, and means to move the other of said members into engagement with said edge portion, in time with the feeding movement of said mechanism, to force the same into said recess and impress a series of indentations therein, and to hold the members in clamping engagement therewith during a substantial portion of said feeding movement.

l0. ln a sewing machine, means to guide a strip of textile material to the sewing mechanism thereof, a clamping device having correspondingly shaped projecting and recessed members adapted and arranged to have a combined indenting and stretching action on the edge-portion of the strip when forced together, means to force said members into operative relation during each stitch-forming operation of the machine, and means to exert a longitudinal pull.on said strip edgeportion between said clamping device and said sewing mechanism, after the formation of each stitch, to pull out the previously formed indentation.

l1. In a sewing machine, means to guide a strip of textile material to the sewing mechanism thereof, a clamping device having the members thereof respectively arranged above and beneath the position in which the strip is guided, one of said members having a V- shaped recess and the other having a correspondingly shaped blade adapted to press the strip edge-portion against the bottom of said recess when said members are pressed together, means to cause operative action of said clamping device during each cycle of operation of the machine, to impress a series of indentations in one edge portion of the strip and means to stretch said edge portion between said clamping device and the point of formation of the stitch, while said clamping device members are held in clamping engagement with the same.

12. ln a sewing machine having a fourmotion feed-plate, a table having an inclosed passage arranged to guide a strip of textile material to said feet -plate, a clamping device having its stationary member formed on the under side of the upper wall of said passage and its other member movable vertically therebeneath, and means, carried by said feed-plate, arranged to engage said movable member to clamp the strip against the stationary member as the plate is lifted to engage the work and to hold said movable member in clamping position during the initial portion of its feeding movement.

13. In a sewing machine having a fourmotion feed-plate, a table having a passage arranged to guide a strip of textile material to said feed plate, a clamping device having one member disposed above and the other beneath said passage, in position to engage one edge-portion of the strip, as it is drawn therethrough, the strip-engaging face of one of said members having a recess and that of the other having a corresponding projection, adapted to force said strip edge-portion into said recess, to perform a stretching and indenting operation thereon, and means arranged to be actuated by said feed plate, as it is lifted into engagement with the work, to force said members into operative relation.

let. In combination with a sewing machine having a four-motion feed-plate, a throat plate adapted to be arranged approximately flush with the surface of the machine table and having' a passage therein adapted and arranged to guide a strip of textile material over the table to said mechanism, a clamping device having one member stationarily disposed above said passage and the other movably supported therebeneath and arranged to be engaged by said feed-plate in its upward motion, and forced upwardly to clamp the strip against said stationary member, and hold it in clamped position during a portion of the feeding-motion of said feedplate.

15. 'ln combination with a sewing machine having a four-motion feed-plate, a throat plate adapted to be arranged approximately Hush with the surface of the machine table and having a passage therein adapted and arranged to guide a strip of textile material over the table to said mechanism, a bridge plate extending over said passage and having a recessed tace on its under side, a lever pivoted on the under side of said throat plate and having a blade thereon arranged to be forced into said recess when the lever is swung upward, to force one edge-portion of the strip therein, and means carried by said feed-plate arranged to operate said lever.

16. In combination with the feeding and sewing mechanism of a sewing machine,

means for stretching one edge-portion of a bias-cut textile strip to conform to the shape ot the edge of the material to which it is to be stitched comprising means disposed in advance of said mechanism to impress a series ot' transversely extending indentations in said edge portions which decrease in depth from the edge toward the middle of the strip, and means to exert a longitudinal pull on said portion after each indentation has been formed therein, to pull out the indentation prior to the engagement thereof by the sewing mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiieation.

DANIEL A. HITCHCOCK. 

